Apparatus and method for tying

ABSTRACT

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a tying apparatus is provided for tying, with a tying element, a first element to a second element. The tying apparatus comprises a driving mechanism, a shaft and a grabber for twisting a beginning section of a tying element around a middle section of the tying element. The tying apparatus can be operated with one single hand.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

The present application is a continuation-in-part of the International Patent Application Serial No. PCT/CH2003/000574, filed Aug. 25, 2003, which claims the benefit of the filing date of Swiss Patent Application No. 1509/02, filed on Sep. 5, 2002, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of fastening plants. In particular, the invention relates to a tying apparatus for tying a first element to a second element and to a method of tying a first element to a second element.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

Devices for fastening plant parts may exert a significant force onto the plant parts to be tied together. Therefore, vulnerable or flexible plant parts may be damaged during twisting or knotting of the tying wire due to the existence of pulling forces. Furthermore, current devices for fastening plants have to be hold by at least one hand of a user during operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a tying apparatus for tying, with a tying element, a first element to a second element may be provided, the tying apparatus comprising a shaft, a driving mechanism and a grabber, wherein the driving mechanism is adapted for forward-rotating the shaft in a direction of rotation from a start position to an end position, wherein the grabber is attached to the shaft for being rotated together with the shaft, wherein the grabber is adapted for receiving the tying element at a beginning section of the tying element, and wherein, by rotation of the grabber, the tying apparatus is adapted for attaching the beginning section of the tying element to a middle section of the tying element.

Therefore, according to this exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a tying apparatus may be provided which is adapted for tying together a first element and a second element by using a tying element which is rotated at a beginning section and which beginning section is then attached to a middle section of the tying element. This attachment is performed by the rotation of the beginning section.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the tying apparatus further comprises a handle, wherein the handle is adapted for fixing the tying apparatus to a user.

Therefore, according to this exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the user may not have to actively hold the tying apparatus during operation since the tying apparatus is attached to the user.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the handle is adapted as a grip for being mounted to a user's hand or for being slipped onto the user's hand.

Therefore, according to this exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the grip may be adapted for attaching the tying apparatus to the user's hand, even when the user does not actively hold the tying apparatus.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the tying apparatus further comprises a back-rotating mechanism, wherein the back-rotating mechanism is adapted for rotating the shaft back from the end position to the start position.

For example, the back-rotating mechanism may be adapted for automatically rotating the shaft back from the end position to the start position after forward-rotation of the shaft by the driving mechanism.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the back-rotating mechanism is adapted for rotating the shaft back from the end position to the start position upon an occurrence of a triggering event.

Therefore, according to this exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a user may initiate the back-rotation of the shaft, for example after the end of a forward-rotation sequence.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the back-rotating mechanism comprises a force element, wherein the force element is loaded by forward-rotating the shaft in the direction of rotation from the start position to the end position.

This may for example provide for an efficient and automatic back-rotation of the shaft.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the back-rotating mechanism further comprises a switch, wherein the loaded force element is released by operating the switch as triggering event, and wherein operating the switch results in a back-rotation of the shaft from the end position to the start position.

Therefore, according to this exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the user may operate the switch after having tied the first element to the second element by forward-rotating the shaft and the grabber. This switching may be performed with one single finger or by any other movement, such as a movement of the whole tying apparatus for example in order to minimize a pulling force.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the driving mechanism is adapted for driving the shaft in one single direction of rotation from the start position to the end position.

Thus, by operating the driving mechanism, the rotation of the shaft will always be in the same, for example clockwise, direction.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the driving mechanism is adapted for being manually driven by the user.

For example, the driving mechanism may be adapted for being driven by a movement of a hand gear operated by the user.

This may for example provide for an operation without the need of electrical energy.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the driving mechanism is adapted for being driven by a pumping sequence, the pumping sequence comprising a first pumping stroke and a second pumping stroke, wherein the first pumping stroke results in a first forward-rotation of the shaft and wherein the second pumping stroke results in a second forward-rotation of the shaft. Between the first and second pumping strokes, no back-rotation is performed, such that, after the first and second pumping strokes, an overall forward-rotation of the shaft is a sum of the first and second forward-rotations.

For example, according to this exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the user may consecutively operate the driving mechanism (for example by consecutively pumping a respective handle of the driving mechanism). During the first pumping stroke the shaft may rotate in the forward direction. Then, the user may release the handle during which release no movement of the shaft is performed. Then, the user may perform a second pumping stroke during which the shaft is again rotated in the forward direction. Therefore, in case one single stroke may not be sufficient for twisting and knotting together the two elements, the user may apply further pumping strokes without having a back-rotation of the shaft in between the consecutive pumping strokes.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the grabber is adapted for manually receiving and fixing the tying element at the beginning section after formation of a loop of the tying element around the first element and the second element.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, during formation of the loop, the loop does not touch the first element and the second element.

This may provide for a protection of the first element and the second element, since the loop (and therefore the tying element) will not harm or injure the first and second elements.

Furthermore, according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the tying element comprises at least one flexible wire formed of a ductile material.

This may provide for an efficient and durable attachment of the beginning section of the tying element to the middle section of the tying element.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the tying apparatus further comprises an eye, wherein the grabber is adapted as a pair of tweezers having a width, wherein the pair of tweezers is movable through the eye between a closed position and an opened position and wherein the width of the pair of tweezers is adapted such that the tying element is canted during twisting.

Furthermore, according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the grabber may be adapted as a plate with a hook, wherein the width of at least one of the plate and the hook is adapted such that the tying element is canted during twisting.

This may provide for an efficient attachment of the beginning section to the middle section of the tying element.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the tying apparatus further comprises a separator, wherein the tying element comprises an end section and wherein the separator is adapted for separating the loop, comprising the beginning section of the tying element twisted or knotted with the middle section of the tying element, from the end section of the tying element.

Therefore, according to this exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the tying apparatus may be adapted to separate those parts of the tying element which are used for tying together the first element and the second element from the rest of the tying element. No additional tool for separation is needed.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the separator is mounted on the driving mechanism. For example, the separator may be adapted for being operated during forward-rotation of the shaft.

For example, according to this exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an operation of the driving mechanism to forward-rotate the shaft may, at the same time, operate the separator. For example, with each pumping stroke of the driving mechanism, the separator may be operated one single time.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, no pulling force is applied to the loop of the tying element during attachment of the beginning section of the tying element to the middle section of the tying element.

This may provide for an effective protection of vulnerable parts of the first and second elements.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, attaching the beginning section of the tying element to the middle section of the tying element comprises a twisting of the beginning section with the middle section.

This twisting may be performed by rotating the beginning section around the middle section.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the first element is a first part of a plant and the second element is a second part of the plant or a support element for supporting the plant.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the tying element is a plant tying wire for tying together plant parts or a tying wire for use on a building site.

Such a building site tying wire may be formed of a metal or of steel or any other material or material composition adapted for use on a building site and for withstanding relatively strong forces.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the tying apparatus further comprises a locking mechanism, wherein, before occurrence of the triggering event, the locking mechanism is adapted for preventing a back-rotation of the shaft.

Therefore, according to this exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the shaft may be locked before triggering a back-rotation and during single pumping strokes. For example, the shaft may be locked automatically after each pumping stroke and before triggering the back-rotation of the shaft.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the back-rotation of the shaft is triggered by minimizing a pulling force applied to the loop.

If for example the tying apparatus is used on a building site, the beginning section of the tying element may be twisted together with the middle section of the tying element during an application of a relatively strong pulling force. If, after forward-rotation of the shaft, the pulling force is minimized, the back-rotation mechanism may be automatically operated since the minimization of the pulling force triggers the back-rotation.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the tying apparatus further comprises a supply unit for receiving and stocking the tying element.

Furthermore, the driving mechanism may be adapted in form of a toothed rack and a toothed wheel.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the tying apparatus further comprises a clutch for rotating the shaft in only one direction of rotation during operation of the driving mechanism.

For example, between consecutive strokes applied to the driving mechanism, the clutch is activated in order to prevent a back-rotation of the shaft.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the driving mechanism is adapted as one of a pneumatic driving mechanism, a hydraulic driving mechanism, and an electric driving mechanism.

It should be noted however, that other forms of driving mechanisms may be used.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a method of tying, with a tying element, a first element to a second element may be provided, the method comprising the steps of receiving, in a grabber, a beginning section of the tying element, forward-rotating a shaft together with the grabber, wherein the grabber is attached to the shaft, in a direction of rotation from a start position to an end position, and attaching, by the forward-rotation of the grabber, the beginning section of the tying element to a middle section of the tying element.

Therefore, according to this exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an efficient and easy to perform method for tying a first element to a second element may be provided, in which method a beginning section of a tying element is attached to a middle section of the tying element by a rotating movement.

Furthermore, the method may comprise the step of fixing the tying apparatus to a user. For example, the tying apparatus may be fixed to a user's hand with the help of a grip. This may provide for an easy operation of the tying apparatus without the need of actively holding the tying apparatus.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a pumping sequence may be performed, the pumping sequence comprising a first pumping stroke and a second pumping stroke, wherein the first pumping stroke results in a first forward-rotation of the shaft and wherein the second pumping stroke results in a second forward-rotation of the shaft. Between the first and second pumping strokes, no back-rotation is performed.

Therefore, a plurality of pumping strokes may be performed without a back-rotation of the shaft between the single pumping strokes.

Furthermore, according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a triggering of a back-rotation of the shaft may be performed after which the shaft is back-rotated from the end position to the start position.

Furthermore, according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a beginning section of the tying element twisted or knotted with a middle section of the tying element may be separated from an end section of the tying element.

These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following, with reference to the following drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a tying apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a grabber according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of a tweezer like grabber according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of the tying apparatus according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of a grip according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The illustration in the drawings is schematically. In different drawings, similar or identical elements are provided with the same reference numerals.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a tying apparatus 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The tying apparatus 100 depicted in FIG. 1 comprises a shaft 7, a driving mechanism 4, 5, 9, a grabber 2 with an ear 3, a handle or a grip 1 and a force element 13.

The driving mechanism 4, 5, 9 is adapted for forward-rotating the shaft 7, for example clockwise, from a start position to an end position. The driving mechanism 4, 5, 9 may be adapted for driving the shaft in one single (clockwise direction) of rotation. This may be provided by a ratchet like element (not depicted in FIG. 1) which prevents the driving mechanism 4, 5, 9 for being rotated in the backward direction. It should be noted however that the tying apparatus is not limited to driving mechanisms for being rotated in one direction only.

The driving mechanism is adapted for being manually driven by a user, which operates the handle 5 by performing a rotational movement. For example, the driving mechanism may comprise a hand gear 4, 5 for manual operation.

It should be noted, however, that the driving mechanism 4, 5, 9 may be adapted in form of an automatic driving mechanism, comprising for example an electric motor.

Furthermore, the driving mechanism may be adapted as a pneumatic driving mechanism or a hydraulic driving mechanism.

The handle or grip 1 is adapted for fixing the tying apparatus 100 to a user's hand. For example, a modular grip may be provided which may allow to flexibly adjust distances between a handle 19 and a fixing element or fastener 20 to given anatomical conditions of a user the tying apparatus. By taking this measure, the anatomical part of the user (for example the hand) at which the grip shall be fastened can be clamped or otherwise be fixed between the fixing element 20 and the handle 19, so that it may be securely avoided that the tying apparatus is undesirably lost (for instance falls down) while a user uses the apparatus.

The grip 1, comprising the handle 19 and the fastener 20, may be made of a deformable material in order to be flexibly bent.

The grabber 2 is attached to the shaft 7 for being rotated together with the shaft 7 and adapted for receiving the tying element (reference numeral 16 in FIG. 2) at a beginning section of the tying element. By rotation of the grabber 2 (together with the shaft 7) the tying apparatus 100 attaches the beginning section of the tying element to the middle section of the tying element by twisting the beginning section around the middle section.

The back-rotating mechanism 13 is adapted for rotating the shaft 7 back from the end position to the start position. As depicted in FIG. 1, the back-rotating mechanism 13 is adapted in form of a force element for application of a pressure to element 21. For example, by operating the driving mechanism 4, 5, 9, the force element 13 may be loaded. In case for example the force element 13 is a spring, the spring may be pushed together. For example, element 21 may be a toothed strip which moves down together with the spring 13 (when being pushed together). Then, upon occurrence of a triggering event (which may occur by pushing a switch (not depicted in FIG. 1)), the spring 13 may be released, resulting in an upward movement of element 21 and therefore in a backward rotation of toothed wheel 9 together with shaft 7 and grabber 2 until the start position is reached.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a grabber 2 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The grabber 2 is adapted for manually receiving and fixing the tying element 16 at the beginning section 24 after formation of a loop of the tying element around the first element 22 and the second element 23. During formation of the loop, the loop does not touch the first element 22 and the second element 23.

The tying element 16 comprises at least one flexible wire formed of a ductile material, such that, when the end section 24 is twisted together with the middle section 25, both sections are firmly attached to each other.

The grabber depicted in FIG. 2 is adapted as a plate 26 with a hook 27 such that the tying element 16 is canted and twisted during rotation.

During attaching of the beginning section 24 to the middle section 25, no pulling force is applied to the loop of the tying element 16.

The first element 22 is for example a twig of a plant and the second element 23 is for example a twig of another plant or a twig of the same plant or, for example, a support element, such as a post or rod.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of a grabber 2 according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The grabber 2 is adapted as a pair of tweezers having a width symbolized by arrow 28. The tweezers 2 are movable along axis 29 and can be pulled inside eye 3. By pulling the tweezers inside the eye 3, they can be moved from an opened position (depicted in FIG. 3) to a closed position (not depicted in FIG. 3). By closing the tweezers, the wire 16 may be firmly gripped by tweezers 2.

The width 28 of the pair of tweezers 2 is adapted such that the tying element 16 is canted during twisting.

FIG. 4 shows another exemplary embodiment of the tying apparatus according to the invention. The tying apparatus depicted in FIG. 4 comprises a driving mechanism 6, 8, 9 adapted for being driven by a pumping sequence. The pumping sequence consists of a plurality of pumping strokes, each stroke resulting in a forward-rotation of shaft 7. In between consecutive pumping strokes, no back-rotation is performed by the shaft. This is provided with the help of clutch 11, which prevents the shaft 7 from rotating backward after a pumping stroke (which moves the handle 6 down in direction of arrow 30). After a downward pumping stroke the lever 6 is automatically pushed back, for example by spring 31 or any other element appropriate for pushing back the lever 6. Then, a further pumping stroke may be performed, resulting in a further forward-rotation of shaft 7.

Furthermore, a locking mechanism 10 is provided which prevents a back-rotation of the shaft 7 before occurrence of a triggering event. The triggering event for back-rotating the shaft 7 may, for example, be triggered by minimizing a pulling force applied to the wire 16. The tying apparatus further comprises a supply unit 31 for receiving and stocking the tying element 16.

The driving mechanism may comprise a toothed rack 8 and a toothed wheel 9.

Furthermore, the tying apparatus 100 comprises a separator 12 adapted for separating the loop of the tying element from the end section of the tying element stored in the supply unit 31.

A separator 12 may be mounted on the driving mechanism 6, 8, 9 and may be connected to a handle 14 by shaft 15. The handle may be pivotably connected to shaft 6 and may manually be moved along arrow 32, resulting in a movement of shaft 15 in direction of arrow 17 and therefore in a rotational movement of separator 12 in the direction of arrow 18 in order to separate the wire 16. It should be noted however that the separator 12 may be adapted in such a way, that it is automatically operated during forward-rotation of the shaft 7.

FIG. 5 shows a grip 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention for being slipped onto a user's hand and for providing a fixation to the user without actually the need for user action. This fixation to the user's hand is provided by forming the fixing element 20 from a flexible material which tightly pushes against the user's fingers around handle 19, therefore providing a save fixation of the grip 1 to the user's hand.

It should be noted, that the term “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps and the “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality and that a single processor or system may fulfil the functions of several means recited in the claims. Also elements described in association with different embodiments may be combined.

It should also be noted, that any reference signs in the claims shall not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims. 

1. Tying apparatus for tying, with a tying element, a first element to a second element, the tying apparatus comprising: a shaft; a driving mechanism; a grabber; wherein the driving mechanism is adapted for forward-rotating the shaft in a direction of rotation from a start position to an end position; wherein the grabber is attached to the shaft for being rotated together with the shaft; wherein the grabber is adapted for receiving the tying element at a beginning section of the tying element; and wherein, by rotation of the grabber, the tying apparatus is adapted for attaching the beginning section of the tying element to a middle section of the tying element.
 2. The tying apparatus of claim 1, the tying apparatus further comprising: a handle; wherein the handle is adapted for fixing the tying apparatus to a user.
 3. The tying apparatus of claim 2, wherein the handle is adapted as a grip for being mounted to a user's hand or for being slipped onto the user's hand.
 4. The tying apparatus of claim 1, the tying apparatus further comprising: a back-rotating mechanism; wherein the back-rotating mechanism is adapted for rotating the shaft back from the end position to the start position.
 5. The tying apparatus of claim 4, wherein the back-rotating mechanism is adapted for rotating the shaft back from the end position to the start position upon an occurrence of a triggering event.
 6. The tying apparatus of claim 4, wherein the back-rotating mechanism comprises a force element; and wherein the force element is loaded by forward-rotating the shaft in the direction of rotation from the start position to the end position.
 7. The tying apparatus of claim 6, wherein the back-rotating mechanism further comprises a switch; wherein the loaded force element is released by operating the switch as triggering event; and wherein operating the switch results in a back-rotation of the shaft back from the end position to the start position.
 8. The tying apparatus of claim 1, wherein the driving mechanism is adapted for driving the shaft in one single direction of rotation from the start position to the end position.
 9. The tying apparatus of claim 1, wherein the driving mechanism is adapted for being manually driven by the user.
 10. The tying apparatus of claim 1, wherein the driving mechanism is adapted for being driven by a movement of a hand gear operated by the user.
 11. The tying apparatus of claim 1, wherein the driving mechanism is adapted for being driven by a pumping sequence, the pumping sequence comprising a first pumping stroke and a second pumping stroke; wherein the first pumping stroke results in a first forward-rotation of the shaft; wherein the second pumping stroke results in a second forward-rotation of the shaft; and wherein, between the first and second pumping strokes, no back-rotation is performed, such that, after the first and second pumping strokes, an overall forward-rotation of the shaft is a sum of the first and second forward-rotations.
 12. The tying apparatus of claim 1, wherein the grabber is adapted for manually receiving and fixing the tying element at the beginning section after formation of a loop of the tying element around the first element and the second element.
 13. The tying apparatus of claim 1, wherein, during formation of the loop, the loop does not touch the first element and the second element.
 14. The tying apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tying element comprises at least one flexible wire formed of a ductile material.
 15. The tying apparatus of claim 1, the tying apparatus further comprising: an eye; wherein the grabber is adapted as a pair of tweezers having a width; wherein the pair of tweezers is movable through the eye between a closed position and an opened position; and wherein the width of the pair of tweezers is adapted such that the tying element is canted during twisting.
 16. The tying apparatus of claim 1, wherein the grabber is adapted as a plate with a hook; and wherein a width of at least one of the plate and the hook is adapted such that the tying element is canted during twisting.
 17. The tying apparatus of claim 1, the tying apparatus further comprising: a separator; wherein the tying element comprises an end section; and wherein the separator is adapted for separating the loop, comprising the beginning section of the tying element twisted or knotted with the middle section of the tying element, from the end section of the tying element.
 18. The tying apparatus of claim 17, wherein the separator is mounted on the driving mechanism.
 19. The tying apparatus of claim 17, wherein the separator is adapted for being operated during forward-rotation of the shaft.
 20. The tying apparatus of claim 1, wherein, during attaching of the beginning section of the tying element to the middle section of the tying element, no pulling force is applied to the loop of the tying element.
 21. The tying apparatus of claim 1, wherein attaching the beginning section of the tying element to the middle section of the tying element comprises a twisting of the beginning section with the middle section.
 22. The tying apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first element is a first part of a plant; and wherein the second element is one of a second part of the plant and a support element for supporting the plant.
 23. The tying apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tying element is one of a plant tying wire for use for plants and a steel tying wire for use on a building site.
 24. The tying apparatus of claim 5, the tying apparatus further comprising: a locking mechanism; wherein, before occurrence of the triggering event, the locking mechanism is adapted for preventing a back-rotation of the shaft.
 25. The tying apparatus of claim 4, wherein the back-rotation of the shaft is triggered by minimizing a pulling force applied to the loop.
 26. The tying apparatus of claim 1, the tying apparatus further comprising: a supply unit for receiving and stocking the tying element.
 27. The tying apparatus of claim 1, wherein the driving mechanism comprises a toothed rack and a toothed wheel.
 28. The tying apparatus of claim 1, the tying apparatus further comprising a clutch for rotating the shaft in only one direction of rotation during operation of the driving mechanism.
 29. The tying apparatus of claim 1, wherein the driving mechanism is adapted as one of a pneumatic driving mechanism, a hydraulic driving mechanism, and an electric driving mechanism.
 30. A method of tying, with a tying element, a fist element to a second element, the method comprising the steps of: receiving, in a grabber, a beginning section of the tying element; forward-rotating a shaft together with the grabber, wherein the grabber is attached to the shaft, in a direction of rotation from a start position to an end position; and attaching, by the forward-rotation of the grabber, the beginning section of the tying element to a middle section of the tying element.
 31. The method of claim 30, further comprising the step of: fixing the tying apparatus to a user.
 32. The method of claim 30, further comprising the steps of: performing a pumping sequence, the pumping sequence comprising a first pumping stroke and a second pumping stroke; wherein the first pumping stroke results in a first forward-rotation of the shaft; wherein the second pumping stroke results in a second forward-rotation of the shaft; and wherein, between the first and second pumping strokes, no back-rotation is performed, such that, after the first and second pumping strokes, an overall forward-rotation of the shaft is a sum of the first and second forward-rotations.
 33. The method of claim 30, further comprising the steps of: triggering a back-rotation of the shaft; and back-rotating the shaft from the end position to the start position.
 34. The method of claim 30, further comprising the step of: separating a beginning section of the tying element twisted or knotted with the middle section of the tying element from an end section of the tying element. 